We’re Now 100% Vegan! Here’s What That Means…

As pretty much anyone can attest to, veganism is the new focus in beauty, eclipsing the obsession with sulfates (and lack thereof), parabens (and lack thereof), pollution-eschewing skincare items, and even organic and natural fare. It’s become hip (for good reason) in the past few years, resulting in a rise in vegan skincare and makeup offerings, of course, but also in everything from condiments to vegan leather clothing and accessories. At Milk Makeup, we make our products vegan because it’s a no-brainer: they’re friendlier to the earth; they’re friendlier to your skin, and they offer major payoff without any compromise. Veganism, however, can be a…confusing…concept, so we made this guide to clear up any confusion.

What Makes A Product Vegan?

First, what exactly is vegan skincare and makeup? A product that is vegan does not contain any animal ingredients, nor animal-derived ingredients. This includes honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, albumen, carmine, cholesterol, gelatin, and many others. To figure out if a product you’re interested in using is vegan, start by scanning the label and packaging. The best way to know a product is vegan is to read the full ingredient list and confirm for yourself. It’s a lot easier to do research at home than trying to understand some of the unregulated terms used in packaging.

Regulation Of Cosmetics

Because the FDA only regulates beauty products, it benefits you to align with brands who are transparent about what goes into — and what’s left out of — their products. And it definitely behooves you to be familiar with the ingredients in what you’re slathering on your face and body. If you’re interested in switching to vegan makeup and skincare, it’s helpful to know that for any animal byproduct, there’s now the ability to create safe alternatives that still offer rad results.

Cruelty-Free And Vegan: Not Necessarily Interchangeable

Animal testing is another important consideration. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (regulated by the Food and Drug Administration) prohibits the sale of mislabeled and “adulterated” cosmetics, but doesn’t require that animal tests be conducted to ensure that cosmetics are safe in the U.S. However, the Chinese government conducts mandatory animal tests on all cosmetic products imported into the country. The government may also conduct animal tests on items pulled from store shelves. So, note that even if a cosmetics company does not test their products or ingredients on animals, if they sell their products in China, they cannot be considered cruelty-free. “Not all cruelty-free skincare and makeup products are vegan; vegan products imply not only no testing on animals, but also no use of animal products such as milk, honey, and lanolin,” says New York City dermatologist Dr. Mary Stevenson. Knowing logos on labels can help navigate these distinctions.

Dermatological Difference

Replacing your products with vegan alternatives, even if it’s just a few items, can have a massive impact on overall animal consumption. But when it comes to skincare and makeup, you don’t want to have to sacrifice effectiveness or payoff, of course. You still want that gorgeous packaging and luxe color payoff (you deserve it, frankly), and the good news is that you can still get it! There are a bevy of excellent vegan products in the beauty space, and of course, Milk Makeup’s offerings are now 100% vegan. We believe the ingredients you put on your skin really matter and we find safe synthetic and natural alternatives that have you covered in all the ways.

Even if you have yet to go vegan from a nutrition or even a fashion standpoint, there’s never been a better time to take a vegan approach to your makeup and skincare, because you’ll get the same, if not better quality and efficacy without compromising your values.